Hypothermia Facts
For More Information Introduction • When exposed to cold temperatures, your body can lose heat faster than For questions regarding winter you produce it. preparedness activities, contact your • Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored local health department. energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. • Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim Local Health Departments unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly Baker ...... 541‐523‐8211 dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be Benton ...... 541‐766‐6835 able to do anything about it. Clackamas ...... 503‐655‐8430 • Severe hypothermia can lead to death. In Oregon, there are, on average, Clatsop ...... 503‐325‐8500 nine deaths per year from exposure to excessive cold. Columbia ...... 503‐397‐4651 Coos...... 541‐756‐2020 Causes of hypothermia ………………………………..…….ext. 510 • Hypothermia occurs when heat escapes from your body faster than it can Crook ...... 541‐447‐5165 warm itself. This often happens in cool outdoor weather (below 50 degrees Curry ...... 541‐247‐3300 F.) when wind chill, wet or too little clothing, fatigue, and/or poor nutrition Deschutes ...... 541‐322‐7400 Douglas...... 800‐234‐0985 lower the body’s ability to cope with cold. Gilliam ...... 541‐384‐2061 • It can even happen indoors when temperatures are routinely kept below 60 Grant ...... 541‐575‐0429 degrees F. Harney ...... 541‐573‐2271 • Victims of hypothermia often are: Hood River...... 541‐386‐1115 Elderly people with inadequate food, clothing or heating Jackson ...... 541‐774‐8209 Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms Jefferson ...... 541‐475‐4456 Josephine ...... 541‐474‐5325 People who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hik‐ Klamath ...... 541‐882‐8846 ers, hunters, etc. Lake ...... 541‐947‐6045 People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs. Lane ...... 541‐682‐4041 • Acute hypothermia can happen when a person experiences a rapid loss of Lincoln ...... 541‐265‐4112 body heat, usually from submersion in cold water. Linn ...... 541‐967‐3888 Malheur ...... 541‐889‐7279 Recognizing hypothermia Marion ...... 503‐588‐5357 • In adults, symptoms of hypothermia may include shivering, exhaustion, Morrow ...... 541‐676‐5421 confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss and slurred speech. Multnomah ...... 503‐988‐3674 • In infants, warning signs of hypothermia may include bright red, cold skin Polk...... 503‐623‐8175 and very low energy. Sherman ...... 541‐506‐2600 Tillamook ...... 503‐842‐3900 Treatment for mild hypothermia Umatilla ...... 541‐278‐5432 • Get the person to a warm area and take off any wet clothing. Union ...... 541‐962‐8801 • Gradually rewarm them by applying a gentle source of heat to the groin, Wallowa ...... 541‐426‐4848 head, neck and sides of the chest. Use an electric blanket or hot water Wasco ...... 541‐506‐2600 bottles, if available. If not, use skin‐to‐skin contact under loose, dry layers Washington ...... 503‐846‐8881 Wheeler ...... 541‐763‐2725 of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Yamhill ...... 503‐434‐7525 • Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. These lower the body’s temperature. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck. Treatment for severe hypothermia: • Treat a person with severe hypothermia (body temperature at or below 95° F) as a medical emergency and call 911. Let the hospital re‐warm the victim.
Healthy Oregon
Hypothermia Facts
For winter safety tips visit: • People who have severe hypothermia must be carefully re‐warmed and The American Academy of their temperatures monitored. Pediatricians Gently remove all wet clothing and wrap the person warmly. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/relea • Once shivering has stopped, the person has lost the ability to generate ses/decwintertips.cfm heat. They need a gentle source of heat, like another human body.
• Warm the person’s lungs by mouth‐to‐mouth breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Do not rub the person or move their arms or legs. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/wi • Do not use direct heat or hot water to warm the person. Immersing a nter/staysafe/hypothermia.asp person in warm water re‐warms them too fast. • Even someone who shows no signs of life may survive if given the proper For winter pet safety tips visit: care. • A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem Oregon Veterinary Medical to have a pulse or to be breathing. Even if the victim appears dead, Association emergency resuscitation (CPR) should be provided. CPR should continue http://oregonvma.org/care‐ while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical aid health/winter‐pet‐care‐tips becomes available.
Note: These measures don’t take the place of proper medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and victims should be treated by a medical professional.
Preventing hypothermia Everyone, especially the elderly and ill, should have adequate food, OHA Facebook clothing, shelter, and sources of heat. www.facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority Blankets can help, even in poorly heated rooms. Infants lose body heat more easily than adults. Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room. Provide warm clothing and a OHA Twitter blanket for infants and try to maintain a warm indoor temperature. www.Twitter.com/OHAOregon When going outside in cold weather, wear several layers of loose clothing including a hat. Layering provides better insulation. Layers can also be removed if you become too hot. Boots should be waterproof and insulated. Be sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold
weather. Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin. Move into warm locations periodically. Limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days. Move around. Physical activity raises body temperature. A first aid or CPR course can help you prepare for cold‐weather health
problems. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your
health and the health of others.
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